Multiple electrode mounting



Filed March 22} 1961 FIGJ INVENTOR. Francis B. Gurfner VWLITP' 5 AT TORNEY United States Patent Ofiflce 3,06 1,71 l Patented Oct. 30, 1 962 3,061,711 MULTIPLE ELECTRGDE MGUNTHNG Francis E. Gurtner, Lockport, 111., assignor to The Budd Company, Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 97,487 Claims. (Cl. 219-78) This invention relates to a multiple electrode mounting and has for an object the provision of improvements in this art.

One of the particular objects of the invention is to provide a simple and sturdy electrode mounting.

Another object is to provide a mounting which furnishes quick connections for cooling fluid and which gives full assurance against leakage of fluid.

Another object is to provide fluid outlet shapes in the supply tubes which will spread the fluid efliciently within the electrode.

Another object is to provide fluid outlet conduit means which will promote the rapid outflow of fluid.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of multiple electrode welding apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical elevation and section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

When welding with a pair of circuit-carrying electrodes on one side of a workpiece and with a common backing connector on the other side of the workpiece it has been one common practice to mount two separate backing electrodes on a conductive base, as of copper. Another practice has been to mount two backing electrodes formed on a common conductive block on a supporting base, which did not need to be highly conductive.

In no known case were the backing electrodes cooled. This is an important factor for some types of welding.

According to the present invention a common conductive block with two electrodes is provided with cooling means and that of a very eflicient convenient character.

As shown in the drawings, a main back-up base block is adapted to have mounted thereon a plurality of backup electrode blocks 11, each block having a pair of electrodes 11a and 11b provided thereon, a by being made integral therewith as shown. The blocks 11 are formed of electrically conductive material, such as copper, but the base block 10 does not need to be a highly conductive material and may be made of cast iron, steel, or the like.

Beneath each electrode 11a, 11b there is formed a cavity 12 for cooling fluid. The base block 10 is provided with cooling fluid ducts, formed as by through drilling with the dead ends closed by caps.

There are inlet passages 14 below the electrode positions and outlet passages 15 at one side. The inlet passages 14 are provided with supply pipes 14a and deadend cap 14b; and the outlet passages 15 are provided with outlet pipes 15a and dead-end caps 15b.

Supply tubes 16 are threaded into openings in the base block connecting with the supply channels 14 and pass through oversize holes 17 formed in the block beneath the locations for the electrode cavities 12.

The base block 10 is formed with recessed seats 18 above the holes 17 to receive the electrode blocks 11 and the blocks are secured therein, as by cap screws 19.

A sealing gasket 20, as of an asbestos base material and suitable adhesive, is interposed between the electrode block and its seat to prevent fluid leakage and confine the electrical current to the electrode blocks.

The supply tubes 16 are cut on a bevel at the end to aid in the spread of cooling fluid within the cavitie 12 of the electrodes. Between a hole 17 and an outlet passage 15 there is provided a lateral outlet duct 23, this duct being smaller than the outlet passage and entering it at one side of its axis (above, as shown) to produce a swirling action of the fluid in the outlet passage to promote rapid flow. The duct 23 may be drilled in the block 1t and the dead end closed by a plug 23a.

In operation, each back-up electrode 11a, 11b is dispose-d beneath a circuit electrode 25 with a workpiece W clamped between them. The workpiece is here shown as a couple of thicknesses of metal to be welded together. Current flows from the circuit electrodes 25 through the workpiece and through the electrodes 11a, 11b and the block 11.

It is thus seen that the invention provides a simple, eflicient and inexpensive multiple back-up electrode mounting with eflicient mounting and cooling means.

While one embodiment of the invention has been described for purposes of illustration it is to be understood that there may be various embodiments and modifications within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A multiple back-up electrode mounting, comprising in combination, a back-up base block having a cooling fluid supply channel and a fluid outlet channel, an upstanding fluid supply tube connected With said supply channel, said base block having an oversize hole surrounding the fluid supply tube and a return duct connecting the hole with said outlet channel, and an electrode block secured to said base block with an insulating sealing gasket therebetween, said electrode block having an electrode thereon and a fluid cavity therebehind over the end of said supply tube and oversize hole.

2. An electrode mounting as set forth in claim 1, wherein said supply tube is bevelled at the end to spread the fluid.

3. An electrode mounting as set forth in claim 1, wherein said return duct is smaller in diameter than said outlet channel and enters the outlet channel on one side of its axis to give the fluid a swirling action as it enters the outlet channel.

4. A multiple back-up electrode mounting, comprising in combination, a back-up base block having a cooling fluid supply channel and a fluid outlet channel, two upstanding fluid supply tubes connected with said supply channel at spaced points along its length, said base block having oversize fluid return holes surrounding said sup ply tubes and return ducts connecting said holes with said return channel, an electrode block of good conductive material provided with back up electrodes and below them with bottom cavities spaced to fit over said tubes and holes, a heat and electrical insulating fluid sealing gasket between said base block and said electrode block, and means securing said electrode block to said base block.

5. An electrode mounting as set forth in claim 4, in which said base block is provided with a recess to position said electrode block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,033,616 Fassler Mar. 10, 1936 

